Introduction
the objective of this research is to examine the relationship between technical efficiency and conservation agriculture practices in rain-fed wheat farms in the Heris County.
Materials and Methods
To achieve the research objectives, a stochastic frontier translog production function was estimated. Subsequently, the relationship between technical efficiency and factors related to sustainable agricultural practices was examined using a Tobit regression model. The requireddata were collected through questionnaires completed by 250 wheat farmers in this area during the 2022-2023 agricultural year.
Results and discussion
Estimation of the stochastic frontier translog production function showed that the variables of seed, labor, animal manure, chemical fertilizer, and pesticide have a significant effect on the amount of Rain-fed wheat production. Based on the research findings, the average technical efficiency of wheat farmers was found to be 67.10 percent. Thus, wheat farmers in Heris County, with the existing technology and the same amounts of available inputs, can increase the amount of wheat production by about 33 percent without incurring additional costs. The results of estimating the Tobit regression model showed that factors such as experience, education, farmer's income, cultivated area, and sustainable agriculture components, including crop rotation, conservation tillage, leaving straw and stubble, and fallow, have a significant impact on technical efficiency.
Conclusion
, since attention to the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture, including crop rotation, fallow, and conservation tillage, can have positive and beneficial effects such as reducing the prevalence of diseases and weeds, increasing soil organic matter, reducing soil erosion, and enabling continuous use of agricultural resources in the region, it is recommended to educate and encourage wheat farmers to observe conservation agricultural practices and make them aware of the benefits of this type of resource utilization. By promoting some sustainable agricultural principles, farmers' efficiency and production will increase, a.